Ephesians 6:10 - 18

The armor of God is a surprise ending to the book of Ephesians.  After listing the practical duties of daily Christian living, Paul now shows us that they are also part of our spirtual warfare.  We need God's strength to overcome the devil's opposition to our lives.  Note the structure of the passage in that it says we are to stand having and to take praying.  How are we to stand, and what are we to take?  The passage spells it out for us.

Stand . . . having

Go from sideline to soldier with truth as belt.  When we are taught of God we are motivated to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Go from faintheart to braveheart with the breastplate of Christ's righteousness.

Go from retreat to advance with feet shod with the gospel of peace.  It is peace by conquest.  The terms of surrender are repentance and faith.

Take . . . praying

Take the shield of faith to block the fiery darts of the devil's lies with the promises of God's Word.

Take the helmet of salvation.  This is the hope and confidence of the invincible sovereignty and love of God for his children who are His servants and soldiers.

Take the sword of the Spirit.  The Bible is God's Word; He speaks it forth with saving and sanctifying power as we use it in our own watchfulness and witness to others.

Prayer is dependence on God to use all of this armor to grow in grace and advance God's kingdom.  We must grow in prayer so that we truly pray earnestly and fervently and believingly according to God's word.

These are God's means of sending practical power to go forward in God's cause and kingdom.  May God help us to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might".